In 120 he was consul, and subsequently proconsul of the province of Asia. On his return to Rome, Hadrian adopted him on February 25th, 138; he ascended to the throne on the death of Hadrian on July 2nd, 138. He died in March 7th, 161 and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius whom he had adopted.
He earned the title ‘Pius’, which means dutiful and respectful, for two reasons: by threatening the Senate with resignation if they did not deify Hadrian, and secondly, as Hadrian had wanted, he adopted young Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius at the start of his reign. He presided over the most peaceful reign of any emperor, governing well and wisely as a compassionate ruler. He set up charities, built public works for his people, and brought in laws such as ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Some historians have argued it could be the greatest collective human happiness in a period of time in history.
